Table leg construction



Oct. 23, 1956 J. JAFFE 2,768,044

TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 16, 1955 FIG. 5

' INVENTOR FIG. 3 JEROME JAFFE BY Mimx WM W ATTORNEYS other;

United States Patent TABLE LEG CONSTRUCTION J erom'e Jafre; East Meadow; N. Y. Application September 16', 1955, Serial No. 534,650

4Claim's; (Cl1'311-110) This invention relates to a novel, readily demountable table leg construction 7 Tables havingrlegs that'can .be easily attachedto and detached from the tabletop havenot, in the past, been altogether satisfactory. Tables'of this type are ordinarily'extreinely shaky or unstable'and consequently are unsuitable for most purposes unless, of course, the'table legs are" elaborately constructed so" that they can be securely and rigidly attached to theta-bletop. The elaboratestructure'necessary to securelyattach and to rigidly brice such dmou'ntable tablelegsadds greatly to the difiiculty in the manufacture and'assembly of the table and toits cost.

I have now devised 'a'uniqueand relatively simple table construction in" which" demountabl'e table legs are easily attachejdto the table top, andwhenattached' are rigidly brac'edto form a'stable table structure. The table of my inventioncomprisesatable top, a 'plural-ity of readily demountalile legs secured to the underside thereofland a'bracemer'riber connected'to all f thelegsofthe table. Each of thetable legs-comprises a v-shaped leg element termed fiorn two approximately vertically disposed. leg member's joined together at the foot of the leg element and spaced an appreciabledistance apart: at the upper end of" the leg element. The uppen endsof; eacliiofithe leg members are provided with horizontallydisposedaarm 'n fenibers'positioned at approximately "right angles to each A Brace support is provided that connects: the leg'rhe'nibers o'fi the leg elementand:that'is seeurely atrather! thereto approximately intermediate; thefeetl and the upperend the'ero'f. Ar m' member sockets are secured to" the underside ofthe table top. and are adapted to'receive thehorizontaHy disposed arm members of-eaclrleg element. Outerlimie stops are'also secured*to:tlre underside of the table tops adjacent the arm member sockets ans are adapted to preventoutward:movement: of the leg element the" arm members of which vare received in the said adjacent: a'rm' member sockets The braeewmember of the table assembly is supported by the brace supports of each leg" element and is adapted to prevent inward mevement of the leg elements, the outer limit stopsand theurace member thereby rigidly bracing the legs of the table a' ga'i iist relative inward and outward movement.

My invention will be better understood from the following description, in conjunction with the accompanying drawn-get which:

Fig. 1 'is a fragmmtary perspective view of a table embodying the table leg construction of my invention;

Fig; 2 is a perspective view of my table leg just prior tdb'eing attached to the table top;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the table leg of Fig. 2"- as attached to'the table top; a

Fig. 4 is a top view showing the relative position of th'e' horizontal arms of my table leg; and a V Fig- 5 is a view showing a modified form of the leg 'elein'entrof my table leg structure. 1

The table leg construction I have devised can bellsed {iii connection with a wide variety of tables;and table Patented Oct... 23,1956

2; tops,. the term tabletop as employedihereinl including planar tops of conventional design,.-,cabinets, standstfor such articles as televisionreceivers, out-doorsgrills, aquariurns, and the like. Accordingly, rno, specific type. of table top: is shown in the drawing, the tabletop being indicated 'by a rectangular top frame 10' fabricated from angle'iron. In practice, thistop frame is secured without significant modification to the underside of a table top, or the. top frame. is replaced bya table top specifically adapted to receive thetabl'elegs ofmy invention.

My table leg .construction comprises a plurality of V-shaped1leg elements 11' secured'vto" the: underside of the top frame 10 (or table; top; as the casemay be) and braced by a brace memberll. Each'leg element 11? is formed from two leg members 13 joined'at the foot of the legelement-and spaced an appreciabledistaneeapart attheupper end of the leg; element; The-leg members 13 are disposed approximately vertically- (actually at a slight angldwith respectto-true vertical as shown in Fig; 1)*and a-re provided with horizontally disposed arms 14* positioned. at approximately right angles to each other? Theleg= element- 11- is" further provided 1 with a Brace support 15 connecti'r 1gthe two legmembers-13 of the'l'eg element at apoint between-the-foot and the upper end thereof, as clearly show-min the drawing.

Theleg-element is advantageouslyw fabricated in one piece from at metal rod orvtub'e thatzis bentiinto the V-shaped form. shownaineftigst 2rand13 ofzthedrawing. The metal rod mustibe of heavy enough stocktosirnpart to -tll'e fablfi leg suflieient: rigidity. and: stiffness. so that the tabiek will noti-lackrst-ability omthisuaccountr Onthe othervhand, the rod-fromawhieh theetahle' leg isformed should possess; sufiieienti; resilieucyr so, that; after.- being formedasilshownathen-upper: ends of the; vyshaped leg element can be pressed together manually or mechanical.- y c he' p sitiqnz ndicatedrhv hedette jli es n E gand: so; that, wh n 11 ea ed;, the; I mem e sq l erving; back o;- heir: initi l; n si e z how a by t e olid lin s: in; he; rew ng- A s q u n; -5 the r haped a: elem t-i n he) abrica edv rom; W seae a e ee memb rs 13. t a za e ioi d o ether (a bv ldin i the footthereof In. such case the foot. of I the leg; elee n b p o de thbb r q n t l e le caster- 16;

Thebrace. support 15 connecting thetwolegmembers 13 of: each leg, element 111 can be fabricatemfromi the same rod or tube stock a as. the leg; element as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, or advantageously it can. be. fabricated from; atflat plate or sheetoffmetalas showninFig 4. In any-case, itis'permanently secured. tolthe leg elements. 3, shown, advantageously, by welding, or brazing, More; over the brace support; 15 can bepr ovided with a dri lled hole 17, as shown in Big. 4, adapted. to receive a bolt or pin by, means of which the brace member 12 can be fastened thereto as more fully described hereinafter.

Armmembeli receiving sockets 18 positioned .to receive the twoarm members 14' of each leg element 11' (and consequently disposed at approximately right angles to each other) are secured to the underside of the table top frame 10. The sockets 18 are advantageously formed of a metal tube the inside diameter of which is slightly greater than the outside diameter of the rod stock from which the leg element 11 is formed. The metal tube 18 is secured to the underside of the angle iron top frame 10 by any appropriate means, for example as by welding as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. Outer limit stops 19 disposed adjacent thearm receiving opening of each arlm member socket 18 are also provided on the; underside of the top frame 10. When the arm members 1'4 are received in the associated arm member sockets 1 8, the outer limit stops 19 prevent outward the outer limit stops 19 associated therewith.

movement of the leg elements 11 beyond a predetermined outer limit with respect to the top frame 10.

The outer limit stops 19 shown in the drawing are formed from the downwardly depending skirt portion of the angle iron from which the top frame 10 is made. However, in the absence of a top frame 10 made of angle iron as shown, the outer limit stops 19 can be formed from appropriately fashioned metal elements secured to the underside of the table top adjacent the arm receiving openings of the associated arrn member sockets 18. Moreover, in the absence of a top frame, the arm member sockets 18 are secured directly to the underside of the table top in position to receive the arm members 14 of each leg element 11. Alternatively, in place of a complete rectangular top frame 10 such as that shown in Fig. 1, the top frame can comprise merely the corners of a rectangle or other polygon as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

Each of the leg elements 11 is attached to the top frame 10 by compressing the upper ends of the two leg members 13 together as indicated by the dotted lines shown in Fig. 2, by placing the ends of the arm members 14 in the arm receiving openings of the associated arm member sockets 18, and by releasing the compression of the leg members 13 so that the arm members return to their normal position and thus become fully inserted in the arm member sockets 18 as shown in Fig. 3. When thus attached to the top frame 10, the leg elements 11 are positioned approximately normal thereto and tend to be maintained firmly in this position. That is to say, the leg elements 11 resist movement with respect to the top frame 10 when the arm members 14 of each leg element 11 are received in the arm member sockets 18 because the horizontally disposed arm members 14 are approximately normal to the approximately vertically disposed leg members 13, and because the arm members 14 are at approximately right angles to each other.

To insure the necessary rigidity of the legs of my table, I provide the outer limit stops 19 and the brace member 12. The outer limit stops 19, as hereinbefore described, prevent outward movement of the leg elements 11 beyond a predetermined outer limit. This result is achieved by the pressure of the stops 19 against the leg members 13 when the leg elements 11 reach the aforesaid outer limit of movement with respect to the top frame 10.

Inward movement of the leg elements 11 with respect to the top frame is prevented by means of the brace member 12. As shown, in Fig. 1, the brace member 12 comprises a rectangular frame of angle iron adapted to fit between and to connect all of the leg elements 11 of my table structure. Each of the corners of, the brace member 12 extends between the vertically disposed leg members 13 of one of the leg elements 11 and rests upon the brace support 15 of this leg element. If desired, the brace member 12 can be firmly secured to the brace supports 15 on which it rests by means of bolts or pins that extend through holes 17 inthe brace supports as hereinbefore mentioned. The brace member 12 is dimentioned so that, when in, position wth each corner resting on the brace support 15 of one of the leg elements 11, all of the leg elements are pressed firmly against Thus, further outward movement of each leg element 11 is prevented by the said associated outer limit stops 19, and inward movement of the leg element is prevented by the brace member 12.

The brace member 12 is advantagously in the form. of a rectangular frame fashioned of angle iron as shown in Fig. 1. Alternatively, the brace member can be fash ioned from other materials such as wood or metal shelving, or from plywood, to form a shelf below the level of the table top. Moreover, the brace member can have a shape other thanrectangular as, for example an X- or an H-shaped frame. The essential consideration is that, when in position between the leg elements 11, the brace member 12 contacts all of the leg elements and maintains them all firmly against the outer limit stops associated therewith.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it will be seen that I have devised a novel table leg construction comprising demountable leg elements that are readily attached to and detached from a table top, and when attached pursuant to my invention are rigidly braced against undesirable inward and outward movement with respect to the table top. Although described specifically in connection with a rectangular table top, it is apparent that my invention is equally applicable to all tables irrespective of the shape of the table top. Accordingly my novel table leg construction constitutes an important and valuable contribution to the art to which it relates.

I claim:

1. A table comprising a table top, a plurality of legs secured to the underside thereof and a brace member connected to all of the legs of the table, each of said table legs comprising a V-shaped leg element formed from two approximately vertically disposed leg members joined together at the foot of the leg element and spaced an appreciable distance apart at the upper end of the leg element, the upper end of each of said leg members being provided with horizontally disposed arm members positioned approximately at right angles to each other, each of said leg elements being further provided with a brace support connecting the leg members of said leg element approximately intermediate the foot and the upper end thereof, arm member sockets secured to the underside of the table top and adapted to receive the horizontally disposed arm members of each leg element, and outer limit stops secured to the underside of the table top adjacent the arm member sockets and adapted to prevent outward movement of the leg element the arm members of which are received in said arm member sockets, said brace member being supported by the brace supports of each leg element and adapted to prevent inward movement of the leg elements, whereby the legs of said table are rigidly braced against relative inward and outward movement.

2. A table comprising a table top, a plurality of demountable legs secured to the underside thereof and a brace member connected to all of the legs of the table, each of said table legs comprising a V-shaped leg element formed from two approximately vertically disposed leg members joined together at the foot of the leg element and spaced an appreciable distance apart at the upper end of the leg element, the upper end of each of said leg members being provided with horizontally disposed arm members positioned approximately at right angles to each other, each of said leg elements being further provided with a brace support connecting the leg members of said leg element approximately intermediate the foot and the upper end thereof, arm member sockets secured to the underside of the table top, said arm member sockets having arm member receiving openings adapted to receive the horizontally disposed arm members of each leg element, and outer limit stops secured to the underside of the table top adjacent the arm member receiving openings of each of said arm member socket, said outer limit stops being adapted to prevent movement of the leg element the arm members of which are received in said arm member sockets outwardly beyond a predetermined outer limit of travel with respect to the table top, said brace member extending between the two leg members of each leg element and being supported by the brace supports thereof,

said brace member forcing all of said leg elements against said outer limit stops and preventing inward movement of the leg elements, whereby the legs of said table are rigidly braced against inward and outward movement relative to the table top.

3. A table comprising a table top, a plurality of legs secured to the underside thereof and a brace member connected to all of the legs of the table, each of said table legs comprising a V-shaped leg element formed from a unitary piece of resilient metal and having two approximately vertically disposed leg members joined together at the foot of the leg element and spaced an appreciable distance apart at the upper end of the leg element, the upper end of each of said leg members being provided with horizontally disposed arm members positioned approximately at right angles to each other, each of said leg elements being further provided with a brace support connecting the leg members of said leg element approximately intermediate the foot and the upper end therof, pairs of arm member sockets secured to the underside of the table top, said arm member sockets being formed from lengths of metal tubing adapted to receive the horizontally disposed arm members of each leg element, the arm members of said leg elements being disposed in said arm member sockets, and outer limit stops secured to the underside of the table top adjacent each of said arm member sockets, said outer limit stops being adapted to prevent outward movement of the leg element beyond a predetermined outer limit relative to said table top, said brace member extending between the two leg members of each leg element and being supported by the brace supports thereof, said brace member forcing each of said leg elements against the associated outer limit stops and being adapted to prevent inward movement of the leg elements, whereby the legs of said table are rigidly braced against inward and outward movement relative to the table top.

4. A table leg comprising a V-shaped leg element formed from two approximately vertically disposed leg members joined together at the foot of the leg element and spaced an appreciable distance apart at the upper end of the leg element, the upper end of each of said leg members being provided with horizontally disposed arm members positioned approximately at right angles to each other, said V-shaped leg element being further provided with a support brace connecting the leg members of said leg element approximately intermediate the foot and upper end thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,309,774 Otte June 15, 1919 1,600,823 Hess Sept. 21, 1926 1,890,583 Meehan Dec. 13, 1932 2,584,471 Kohen Feb. 5, 1952 2,589,719 McKinney Mar. 18, 1952 2,703,742 Becker Mar. 8, 1955 2,707,664 Marsilius May 3, 1955 2,714,542 Glass Aug. 2, 1955 

